Reversible buckle



Apnl 27, 1954 s. HoRNRElcH 2,676,378

REVERSIBLE BUCKLE Filed March l2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l r. I....A n. .u 1....; -.'.......v..'.l A..... v..............4 ........A

.2?!- yi.' JNVENTOR By SAMUELl HORNEEICH April 27, 1954 s. HQRNRHCH 2,676,378

REVERSIBLE BUCKLE Filed March 12, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATES orFicE i 1 claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful Yimprovements in a buckle for a reversible belt.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved belt of the type worn about the Waist to support trousers, slacks and the like having a belt body which can be worn with either face extended outward and which carries at one end a novel buckle including a pivotally mounted tongue which can be used for joining the ends of the belt body regardless of which face-thereof is extended outward.

A further object of the present invention proposes characterizing the kbuckle by a U-shaped member to which the one end of the belt body is attached and upon which the tongue is mounted and which pivotally supports a buckle frame in a manner to be turned relative to the U-shaped frame and the tongue to face eithei1 of its sides outward depending upon which face of the belt body is extended outward.

AnotherY object of the present invention proposes providing the free ends of the side arms of the U-shaped member with outwardly extended trunnions turnably received within complementary sockets Vformed in opposed sides of the buckle frame in a vmanner to pivotally support thebuckle frame to be turned to face either side thereof outward. Y Y

As a further object, the present invention proposes providing a buckle having a rectangular buckle frame to one endv of which the belt body is secured and which is provided with a tongue pivotallyY mounted in such a manner,`

that the free end thereof can be pivoted through the buckle frame so that either side of the buckle frame can be faced outward.

The present invention further proposes a buckle 'frame to one end of which the end of the belt body and the tongue are attached with the tongue beingY removably attached to Vbe interchangeable so that the free end thereof may be engaged against either face of the buckle frame.

l Still further, Vthe present invention proposes constructingV the buckle to'have a tongue yof end aligned sections releasably joined together lso that the free end section 4can vbe removedand rejoinedV withvthe' pivotally mounted inner end section to ,have the free endsection faceof the buckle frame. Y

It isl a-further object of the present invention to construct reversible belts'of the type deengage either scribed which *are simple andV durable, which are effective for theirY intended purposes and Vwhich can .be manufactured'and sold at a reasonable cost. Y

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will Abe had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the Various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

On the accompanying drawings forming a material part of the present invention- Fig. 1 is a front elevationl view of a reversible belt constructed in accordance with the present invention and having a portion thereof broken away.

Fig. 2 ris a partial longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the U-shaped member used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. l and 2. f

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the buckle frame used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the reversible belt constructed in accordance with a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tongue member used in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is an elevational View of a reversible belt constructed in accordance with another modification of the Vpresent invention.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the tongue member used in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 7, but illus- Vtrating still another modification oi the present invention.

' of the present invention illustrated in Figs. l

to e, includes an elongated belt body Ziwhich can lbe worn with either face thereof extended outward. The belt body is illustrated'as being made of adjacent elongated strips of material 2l and 22 having adjacent ends tapered, n

as shown in Fig. 1, so as to facilitate the vlacing off that end of the belt body 2e through the loopsrof a pair of trousers, slacksor the like. Adjacent their tapered ends, the adjacent strips of material are formed with aligned spaced-apertures 23 for selective engagement by thetongue of a belt buckle.- v Y Y The strips of material might be a strip-0rV decorative leather and a strip of durable decorative cloth. Suitable cloths that might be used for one of the strips of material '2i or 22 are canvas, duck or the like. With the belt body having one side formed of leather and one side formed of an ornamental cloth material, the same belt can be worn interchangeably for dress wear or sport wear. On the other hand, the strips of material 2| and 22 might be differently colored lengths of leather with one side colored black and the other side brown, permitting the same belt to be reversed for wear with a grey or blue ensemble or for wear with a brown ensemble.

The strips of material 2l and 22 forming the belt body are joined together for the major portion of their length, extended from the tapered ends thereof, by means of lines of stitches 2d extended parallel to the longitudinal side edges thereof. 1t is conceivable that the belt body 2t could be formed of a single elongated strip of material with both faces thereof ornamented or differently colored to be worn with either face thereof extended outward without departing from the scope and intent of the present disclosure.

rThe end of the belt body 2d remote from the end having the apertures 23 carries a buckle 25. The buckle 25 is constructed to include a U- shaped member 26 having an intermediate arm 26e and a spaced side arms 2th, as best shown in Fig. 3. The end portions of the strips of material 2l and 22 remote from the apertured ends thereof, are curled about the intermediate arm 2te of the U-shaped member 2t from opposite sides thereof and securely attached thereto by spaced transversely extended line of stitches 2l, as best shown in Fig. 2. The end portions of the strips of material 2l and 22 engaged about the intermediate arm 2? are formed with aligned eutouts 28 which expose the center portion of the intermediate arm so that the end of a metallic tongue 2% can be freely pivotally turned about the center portion of the intermediate arm 26e. The free end of the metallic tongue 2s is for se lective engagement with one of the apertures 2s in the opposite end of the belt body 2t.

Pivotally supported on the free ends of the side arms 2Gb of the U-shaped member 2E, there is a rectangular buckle frame Sil. The buckle frame 3D is made of any decorative metal such as gold, silver, stainless steel or the like. Pivotal attachment of the buckle frame 3f! on the U-shaped member 26 is accomplished by means of outwardly extended and aligned trunnions l which are turnably extended into complementary sockets 32 formed in the opposed sides of the buckle frame 33. The reinforce the areas of the buckle frame 3D having the sockets 32, the opposed sides of the frame 3d are provided with enlarged portions 33 through which the sockets 32 are extended.

The pivotal association of the buckle frame 3@ with the U-shaped member 26 permits free pivotal movement of the buckle frame 3i? through 180 degrees in either direction so that the free end of the tongue 29 can be engaged with either face of the buckle frame 30. Thus, by merely turning the buckle frame 3d on the axis of the trunnions 3l, the belt can be worn with'either side of the belt body 2li faced outward while still leaving the tongue 29 free for selective engagement with any one of the apertures 23 securing the belt in position about the Wearers waist.

Turning now to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the construction of the reversible belt is characterized by a belt bodi7 2B similar to that previously described. The buckle 25 includes a rectangular elongated buckle frame 36 about one end portion of which the end portions of the strips of material 2l and 22 are engaged. The tongue member 29 is of T-shape, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6 and includes a tongue portion 299 the free end of which is to be selectively engaged with one of the apertures 23. Opposite its free end, the tongue portion 29a is integral with a cross portion 29h provided at its ends with end aligned laterally eX- tended trunnions 3l. The trunnions 3l are turnably received within complementary sockets 32 formed in the opposed sides of the buckle frame 3u so that the tongue member 2S can be turned relative to the buckle member Sil through substantially 350 degrees to engage the free end of the tongue portion 29a with either side of buckle frame 36. To permit that nearly complete turning of the tongue member 29', the sockets 3-2 are located on the side of the transverse center of the buckle frame St opposed to the end portion 'thereof to which the belt body 2% is attached. Thus, when the tongue member is turned, the free end of the tongue portion 2S@- will pass the end portion of the buckle frame itil to which the end of the belt body is attached, so that the belt can be worn with either side of the belt body 2li faced forward.

ln all other respects, the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is similar to that described in connection with the ilrst form of the invention and like reference numerals are used to identify like parts.

The modiication cf the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 9, is characterized by a belt body 2@ similar in all details to that used in the previous forms of the invention. The buckle 25C has a rectangular frame 3bV of elongated formation and to one end portion of which the belt body 2t is secured as described in connection with the previous forms of the invention. Pivotally and removably carried by the buckle frame sbc, there is a tongue 290. The tongue 2t@ is mounted on the same end portion of the buckle frame 39C to which the belt body 20 is attached. The tongue 29C at its attached end has a narrow strip bent into a loop portion 35 which turnably engages the end portion of the buckle frame clic within the cutouts 2S of the end portions of the strips oi' material 2l and 22 which form the belt body 2o. The free end of the loop portion 35 in turn continues into a resilient finger portion Se removably retaining the loop'portion in engagement with the buckle frame ste.

1ihe arrangement of the finger portion SS permits the tongue 2d to be disengaged from and reengaged with the buckle frame dil. with the free end of the tongue engaging either side of the buckle frame. lt will be appreciated, of course, that the face of the belt body 2G which will be worn outward will be controlled by which face of the buckle frame 3d the free end of the tongue 29 is engaged with.

Again, in all other respects, the modication of the invention shown in Figs. 'l to 9 is similar to that described in connection with Figs. l to 4 and like reference numerals are used to identify the same parts.

l'n the modication of the invention shown in Figs. l() and 1l, the constructionof the reversible belt is essentially the same as that described in connection with Figs. 7 to 9 diiering only in the construction of the tongue 29 forming part of the buckle 25d. The belt body 20 is attached to the buckle frame 30d in the same manner as described in connection with Figs. 7 to 9.

The modified tongue 29 is of two-part construction comprising an inner end section 29d and a free outer end section 29e. The inner end section 29d is smaller than the free outer end section 29e and has a hole 31 for turnably receiving the free end portions of the buckle frame 30d, as shown in Fig. 10. Extended in from the free end of the inner end portion 29d, there is a concentric internally threaded bore 38. The free outer end section 28e of the tongue 29 is formed with a reduced externally threaded shank portion 39 arranged to be threaded into the bore 38. The adjacent ends of the sections 29d and 29e are of the same diameter so that when joined the tongue 29 Will be of uniform diameter throughout its length except for the end portion thereof having the hole 3i'.

Reversing of the belt shown in Figs. and 11 is accomplished by unthreading the outer end section 29e from the inner end section 29d and then locating the outer end section 29e on the desired side of the buckle frame 30d. The shank portion 39 of the outer end section 29e is then rethreaded into the bore 3S rejoining the sections 28d and 29e of the tongue 29".

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A reversible buckle adapted to be used with a reversible belt comprising a rectangular frame, sockets on opposite sides of the frame at the mid-points thereof, a U-shaped cross-bar member having a pair of spaced arms and a connecting cross-piece; trunnion means secured to the free ends of said arms, said trunnion means being received in said sockets to enable the frame membei to pivot in a arc When the belt is to be Worn in reverse, said arms having a length at which said cross-piece is positionable adjacent either end of said frame, and a tongue attached to said cross-piece and having a length to engage the end of said frame opposite to that to which the cross piece is adjacent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

